Swimmers on fire at Snow Fest

Swimmers from the Greater Trail Winter Swim Club excelled at the Kelowna Snow Fest Invitational Short Course Swim Meet last week.

Dylan Kormendy cleaned up in the U11 boys category breaking several meet records on the way. Kormendy won the 1,500-metre free event knocking almost 80 seconds off his previous best and qualifying for the Swim BC Short Course AAA championships that starts today in Kamloops.

U11 Johnny Ekinci placed third in the 50-m back, fourth in the 100-m back and fifth in the 200-m back final Sunday, while rookie swimmer Carson Ogloff claimed gold in the 50-m free and second in the 50-m butterfly, 100-m back, and 200-m free, and third in his 200-m IM and 50-m breaststroke events in his first meet at a Swim BC sanctioned event.

Jackson Konkin, 13, won the 1,500-m free event and qualified for the AAA’s in the 100 and 200-m back, 400-m IM and 100-m free.

Eden Kormendy, one of the top 13-year-old female swimmers in Canada, also broke meet records and won the 12-13 girls 50, 100, and 200-m breaststroke and 200 and 400-m IM events as well as the exciting 100 and 200-m freestyle races.

Martin Gonzalez, aged 15, placed first in the 200-m free event with a personal best time of 2:08.43 and third in the 200-m back. Aby Elwood, 13, placed second in the 800-m free and 100 and 200-m fly. Jennifer Chung took third in the 50-m fly and 200-m IM. Riley Mager, 14, placed third in the boys 1,500-m free, fourth in the 200 and 400-m free, while Sam Matthew placed fourth in the boys 14-15 100 and 200-m breast also qualifying for AAA’s. Sharman Thomas, 14, came fourth in the 400-m IM.

The Boys 13/14 TEAM Relays placed third in the 200-m free and medley relays.

Aby Elwood, 13, placed second in the 800-m free and 100 and 200-m fly events as another AAA qualifier.

Jennifer Chung had good results placing third in the 50-m fly and 200-m IM and fourth in the region for the 100m free event.

“The Academy swimmers train vigorously at the “Home of Champions” Trail Aquatic and Leisure center with dreams to compete competitively in provincial, national and international swim meets. Our TRAX to future champions academy program successfully prepared Academy swimmers to qualify and participate at the Snow Fest meet and the program is well on its way to ensuring more young swimmers get the Quality Fundamental swimming skills that they need to participate at this and higher level meets in the sport of competitive swimming in Canada.”